How is MU any better next season?

[willie wampum]

I don't see how you make up for the loss of Butler.

And do you dare start Cadougan AND Blue?

[flash]

I think MU will be significantly better next year,  DJO in his senior year will be a stud, Otule has shown excellent signs of improvement and is ready to step into a major roll on the team.  Also I think that Jamil Wilson is the replacement for Butler, I've heard great things about him.  I think the starting line up will be
1. Cadougan
2. DJO
3. Crowder
4. Wilson
5. Otule

[mu_hilltopper]

Have to disagree.  DJO is a solid player, but I think he's plateaued.  Otule has upside.  Cadougan has upside, but that means he'll add +2-3ppg. 

We can hope Wilson will be a star, but his Oregon year doesn't point to that.  Crowder .. may get marginally better.

If I had to take a guess right now, it'd be 9-9 again for next year.

[nyg]

Have to disagree.  DJO is a solid player, but I think he's plateaued.  Otule has upside.  Cadougan has upside, but that means he'll add +2-3ppg. 

We can hope Wilson will be a star, but his Oregon year doesn't point to that.  Crowder .. may get marginally better.

If I had to take a guess right now, it'd be 9-9 again for next year.

I agree, but may not reach 9-9.  MU needs a mean, intimidating PF who has ability to be a force on the boards and actually grab, not fumble rebounds. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Cadougan played well against Providence, but horribly against the pressure of STJ and SH. Our guard play has been nothing short of atrocious. We are going to get pressed like a bare ass against a picture window for the rest of the season. I don't like our chances.

[willie warrior]

Have to disagree.  DJO is a solid player, but I think he's plateaued.  Otule has upside.  Cadougan has upside, but that means he'll add +2-3ppg. 

We can hope Wilson will be a star, but his Oregon year doesn't point to that.  Crowder .. may get marginally better.

If I had to take a guess right now, it'd be 9-9 again for next year.

I tend to agree with you on DJO--for quite a while I have thought he was a stud, but he is not showing the confidence in his shot any more.

And if we do go 9-9 again, then it is time to make a change. No more excuses.

[madtownwarrior]

no stud at PG, maybe Wilson replaces Butler, have good big men - don't expect much from DJO or Crowder given how they failed to show up the last few games of this year, Vander might hit the rim next year on his jump shots...

I would say 9 - 9 at best next year...

[ecompt]

Jamil will help. Vander should improve. So there's hope.

[buckchuckler]

Butler will really be missed.  For the first time I can remember, there is no one poised to step up to replace the big guy that we're losing.  Butler is the most consistent player on the team and the only one who really seems to play smart and with killer instinct all the time.  Hopefully Wilson can be what we need, or someone else, but there doesn't seem to be that guy that is on the verge of taking the next step.

[brewcity77]

I tend to agree with you on DJO--for quite a while I have thought he was a stud, but he is not showing the confidence in his shot any more.

And if we do go 9-9 again, then it is time to make a change. No more excuses.

Yeah, we wouldn't want Buzz to get a chance to coach his own players as seniors. I suppose this mindset here shouldn't surprise me.

[ChicosBailBonds]

And if we do go 9-9 again, then it is time to make a change. No more excuses.

Not going to happen, nor should it.  You need to give every coach 5 years...hell, we could be talking about a NCAA team next Sunday.  I hope like hell we are. 

[Warrior1]

Not going to happen, nor should it.  You need to give every coach 5 years...hell, we could be talking about a NCAA team next Sunday.  I hope like hell we are. 

I've used to be annoyed with a lot of your posts. Today, and recently I have really been impressed, and find myself universally agreeing with the way you are thinking.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I've used to be annoyed with a lot of your posts. Today, and recently I have really been impressed, and find myself universally agreeing with the way you are thinking.

Don't tell MarqPTM....that will ruin his idea that EVERYONE HATES ME.   

[marquette99]

Much better next year.  5-stars are usually just role players freshman year and take huge leaps sophomore year to dominate.

4-stars generally have their big leap junior year.

with all the people moving into the year they usually take off and the transfers having practiced all year. I believe we are likely much better despite the tremendous loss of butler and the need to fill the shoes of buycks and fulce.

[Niv Berkowitz]

DJO will be as good as the PGs allow him to be. Better PG play will get him open for threes.

[Jacks DC]

I think we will be as good or somewhat better next year.  Almost every team loses key players.  Losing Butler, Buycks and Fulce will not have the impact that losing Hayward, Acker and Cubillan did.  Remember how bleak it looked after losing the three amigos?  We will be fine.  Not great, but fine.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

We'll be better next year.  A lot will be up to JC, but if he can step up his game....

[79Warrior]

Jamil will help. Vander should improve. So there's hope.

Unless this team can get some jump shooters we are in trouble. Jimmy,like Lazar, will leave a big void. Vander is a terrible shooter, JCc is not a threat either. The cupboard looks weak next sesaon based on who we have now.

[bilsu]

I really thought we would be better next year, but now I am not so sure. First of all we do not know if anyone is going to transfer out. We have two incoming recruits, but Buzz has not utilized freshmen very much so I am assuming they will not play.


C Otule and Gardner
PF Crowder & Williams
SF Wilson & Blue
SG DJO and Jones
PG Cadougan and Singleton

That is not an impressive team

[Boone]

Not encouraged that next season will be any better...and point guard play is at the root of the pessimism. JC did well vs. PC only b/c they played D like a summer league team. Jordan Theodore and Cashmere Wright are average BE points and each had their way with JC.

[Markusquette]

Our success next season really rests on a lot.  Will someone be able to step up early and emerge as a true leader?  Whether it be DJO, Crowder, Wilson, or even Blue, we need a go to guy that can lead the team when we need it most.  DJO is still inconsistent in his second year at MU, but maybe we will be able to get it together for his final year at MU.  Crowder was great for most of this year and faded some down the stretch, but there's no reason to believe he can't fill the void.  Wilson is very intriguing because of his size and athleticism.  Looks like a fluid athlete that can do a lot on the court similar to someone like Jimmy.  It's a lot to hope for him to step in to such a big role, but anything can happen.  Blue is also a dynamic athlete, so maybe with a summer of work on his offensive game and more confidence he could emerge as a big piece to our team next year.  I think what he really needs is just the confidence to compete at the Big East level.  He's a slasher on offense, but I haven't lost all hope in his shot.  He can, and will improve.

Junior will feel more comfortable in his second year (let's be realistic), and Otule will improve even more.  Gardner is going to improve his conditioning and may be a key part of our offense.  Jones could play a role as a shooter and slasher on offense, he is certainly capable of playing at a high level once he learns.  Newcomers like Anderson and Wilson could be sparks; again we have no idea how they might play despite the typical freshman struggles.

Obviously these are things we all hope to happen, but I don't think it's a long shot.  We have talented guys on the roster next year.  While I won't expect anything more than this season has been at this point (which I think we did decent) we could have a solid rotation of guys with some roles.  I didn't think Jimmy would be anything like what he has become, so I'm hoping someone takes over for him and becomes our leader.  Let's focus on getting to the tournament now and worry about next year when this season's over

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I really thought we would be better next year, but now I am not so sure. First of all we do not know if anyone is going to transfer out. We have two incoming recruits, but Buzz has not utilized freshmen very much so I am assuming they will not play.


C Otule and Gardner
PF Crowder & Williams
SF Wilson & Blue
SG DJO and Jones
PG Cadougan and Singleton

That is not an impressive team

Hmmm... I look at that line-up and have  a lot of hope actually. Maybe I'm smoking something.

Using this year's team as a baseline, here's how I view next years team on a goofy scale I just invented:

C Otule and Gardner +1 (Solid upgrade as both players are developing and Gardner could experience a pretty big jump as he continues to develop physically)

PF Crowder & Williams + .5 (Same or slightly better next year. I don't like Jae's disappearing act the last couple of games, but the guy has had a good year, and should be better next year. E.Will looks lost, but should be able to provide 10min that fulce does this year)

SF Wilson & Blue -1.5 (downgrade. Wilson is going to be good, and Vander will improve, but Jimmy is the toughest SOB they've got, so losing him will hurt)

SG DJO and Jones +.25 (slight upgrade, DJO is just a streaky guy, so you have to live with that. Jones should be fine getting 10min. and might become a shooting threat)

PG Cadougan and Singleton +.25 (slight upgrade as Junior continues to develop physically and learns the position. Don't know if Singleton will be the back-up or if it will be Wilson/Blue).

I think the remainder of the bench is a slight upgrade if they don't have any transfers, so overall, they are up .75 on my weird scorecard.

The biggest opportunities are for Wilson, Blue and Cadougan. If they all play better than expected, this team could be sweet 16 material. If they underachieve, could be looking at 9-9.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Don't we have like 6 months to discuss the topic in this thread. They'll be plenty of time come May, June, and July to discuss this. BET starts Tuesday baby!

[Markusquette]

I know chicos lives out in Cali so do you have any opinion of Juan Anderson if you've seen him ball?  Think he could be a contributor next year?

[jeffreyweee]

11-7 next year.

Cadougan Gardner Otule Jones Williams Vander take big steps forward.

Otule will play more consistently - as he has the 2nd half of this season.

DJO will be similar maybe a bit closer to his 3PT% from his soph year. Closer to 40%.



But who cares about next year. We'll beat providence get in the tourney and upset two teams THIS year.